Grandfather’s vintage Royal Standard accordion

[heatherTT]

Hi! And thank you for letting me join. I recently received my grandfather’s accordion, which he brought with him over to Canada from Norway in the 1920s-30s. He played it regularly until his death in 1959 (I never met him). It’s been stored in its case ever since in a safe spot. Can anyone tell me anything about it? I don’t know what to do with it, tbh. Feel wrong to let it continue to just sit. If I sell it, what is its value? My Mom says it was unique as it’s buttons on both sides. Or is there somewhere in Ontario to donate it? Any insight and thoughts would be appreciated!!

 

[Ventura]

hello Heather

what a lovely antique ! some of these pre-WW2 accordions were very artistically
decorated and inlaid, like yours, and are quite unique

Royal Standard, as far as i know, was the other German built accordion
(Hohner being the famous one) but there have beeen other "Royals" too

it would take quite a bit of work to make this accordion useable again,
and it would not be financially justifiable, except to someone who
truly likes this particular accordion and wants to own/keep it and play it.
part of the "Value" of this accordion is it's Provenance, in that it had
one owner, who brought it with him from the Old country, and played/loved
it his whole life. So i would ask you to please, interview other members of your
Family and write up a nice history, with his name and dates, the type of
Music he played on it (if known) where he might have had "gigs" as
well as a photo or old newspaper printout of him with or without his accordion,
and include it in the case with the Accordion.

thank you !

and I would hope some nearby accordionist in Canada will come to see it and
be the right kind of person to ask to be the next caretaker of this instrument

or there are accordion "museums" one of which may like to have it
(other members will advise you in this..)

the buttons on both sides are common in Europe, while we were more
Piano keys on this side of the Atlantic, and it is called a "Chromatic" type accordion

thanks for the pictures !

good luck

 

[Dingo40]

the buttons on both sides are common in Europe, while we were more
Piano keys on this side of the Atlantic, and it is called a "Chromatic" type accordion

Or, more explicitly, a "chromatic button accordion".
Then, perhaps, someone can identify which particular system of CBA: C griff, B griff. Finnish, Belgian,...?
In the pre-WW2 period, when many famous accordionists played 4 and 3-row CBAs, I would imagine a 5-row instrument , like this one, would have been something quite special!

 

[Ffingers]

Or, more explicitly, a "chromatic button accordion".
Then, perhaps, someone can identify which particular system of CBA: C griff, B griff. Finnish, Belgian,...?
In the pre-WW2 period, when many famous accordionists played 4 and 3-row CBAs, I would imagine a 5-row instrument , like this one, would have been something quite special!

Judging by the keyboard having black dots which would represent the equivalent to the black notes on a piano it appears to be in B Griff.
A full 120 bass Stradella looks be the bass.
It seems to have been well used even to the point of losing one treble key completely- the A above middle C.

 

[heatherTT]

Thank you so much, everyone, for the feedback. @Ventura in particular - much appreciated!